Step 2 of protein Synthesis Translation Step 2 of protein Synthesis
Once the mRNA enters the cytoplasm, it is ready to be translated into a protein Ribosomes bind to the mRNA, recognizing the 5’ cap and signaling the initiation of translation
The Ribosome Consists of 2 subunits: a large subunit and a small subunit The 2 subunits bind to the mRNA, clamping it between them The ribosome then moves along the mRNA in the 5’ to 3’ direction adding amino acids to a growing chain each time it reads a codon
Transfer RNA (tRNA) The ribosome cannot synthesize the polypeptide chain alone, tRNA is involved to deliver the correct amino acid to the polypeptide building site At one arm of the tRNA, a sequence of 3 bases (anticodon) match the codon of the mRNA The opposite arm carries the corresponding amino acid
Every tRNA molecule carries only one specific amino acid, therefore at least 20 different tRNA’s are required A tRNA moleucle containing its corresponding amino acid attached to its receptor site at the 3’ end is called aminoacyl-tRNA The enzyme responsible for adding the amino acids is aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase
Elongation of Polypeptide Chain The start codon AUG is the first codon recognized by the ribosome AUG codes for methionine, therefore every protein starts with this amino acid The Ribosome has 3 sites for aminoacyl-tRNA The A Site (acceptor site): site in the ribosome where the tRNA brings the correct amino acid The P Site (peptide site): site in the ribosome where peptide bonds are formed The E Site (exit site): site in the ribosome where tRNA can exit
The ribosome will eventually reach a stop codon and dissociate from the mRNA The polypeptide if formed correctly will continue its journey to becoming a functioning protein (secondary, tertiary, quaternary structure) The mRNA will get digested and its parts will be reused Proteins are constantly made incorrectly because there are no proof reading mechanisms Research the Wobble Hypothesis
Homework Section 7.3 p. 325-330 Answer p. 331 #1, 2, 6, 7 Answer SG p. 101 #2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 10